Improvement in oyster-dredges



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD FAIRBANKS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND LEVIBOWEN, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT iN OYSTER-DREDGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 49,340, dated August 8,1365.

To all whom it mayI concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD FArEBANKs, of

Baltimore city and county, in the State of Maryland, have invented a newand useful Winder for Oyster-Dredges; and I do hereby de-4 clare thatthe following is a full and exact description thereof, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, aud to the letters of referencethereon marked.

In the drawings, Figurerl is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a verticalsection. Fig. 3 shows mode of operating the winder.

The nature of my invention consists in the mode of combining andarranging a revolving standard, with a reel and adjustable cranearms, soas to producea machine well adapted to the purpose of winding inoyster-dredges.

The common way of dredging for oysters is to let the dredge-line passover the side of the vessel as she sails along until the dredge is lled,the line passing over the gunwale of the boat and drawing against astanchiou opposite the winder, so that the rope may be wound at rightangles with the winder. The axis ofthe winderbeing parallel with thekeelof the boat and the line dragging over the side, it is usual torequire the labor of six men to heave the dredge, and then when itisraised to the edge of the boat it requires great exertion of strength tolift the dredge into the vessel toA empty, the dredge and oystersweighing some three or four hundred pounds.

In the drawings, A is the cast-iron bedplate, some twenty inchesindiameter, which is to be secured by bolts to the deck near the bow ofthe vessel. Fig. 3 shows the position, it being best to use two ofmyimproved winders, locating them forward nearthe mast, and

each winder a little to one side of it, at such an angle to the vesselthat the dredge-line, as it passes astern over the sheave of the crane,shall clear the side of the boat. This bed-plate is provided with acircular groove, a, on the upper surface, in which the foot of the cranebrace revolves and is guided.

B is the revolving vertical cast-iron cylindrical standard, some sixteeninches in diameter at the largest part and about thirty-four incheshigh. The lower end of this standard is turned with a shoulder so as tot and revolve in the bed-plate A.

b b are cast-iron brace-bearu gs placed inside ofthe hollow standard atits upper` and lower ends. .l

G is the axle of the standard, which passes easily through the bearingsb, and is keyed fast to theplate A.

D is the cast-iron metallic cap, which gives a iinish to the top ot' thestandard.

E is the reel upon which the dredging-line L is wound. It revolves inbrackets F extending from the top of the standard B, and is providedwith two cranks,ff, by which the reel is wound and the standard isturned.

Gr G are the crane-arms. At the outer end of arm Gr (which is abouteleven feet long) is a patent sheave. c, over which the dredge-ropepasses. The inner end of this arm sits in a.

cast-iron step, e, bolted to the standard a litrv is a bolt for keep'tle below the brackets F. ing the arm in its step. About three feet fromthe outer end of the arm Gr is bol ted a cast-iron step, t', for thereception of the outer end of the brace G', which is retained therein bya keeper-bolt, z. The lower end of the brace G is provided with acast-iron foot, o, curved so as to lit and revolve in the groove a, ot'thebedplate. Two studs, Yv @1,011 the lower end of the standard,immediately under the step c, serve to steady the inner end of brace G.

By means ot' my improved Winder three men can manage a dredge better andmore rapidly than can six men by the old method. After they have woundin the dredgeup out of the water, so as to be above the edge of theboat, they revolve the standard by means of the cranks until the dredgeis brought around so as to be over the vessel, when it is emptied.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is y Thecombination and arrangement of a reel with a revolving standard andcrane-arms, when so arranged as to composea Winder for oyster-dredges,substantially inthe manner and for the purposes described.

In testimony that I claim the above I have-""` hereunto set my hand this14th day of July,

EDWARD FAIRBANKS. In presence of- V. C. CLAYTON, J o C. CLAYTON.

